Any chance of free incoming minutes?

So has VW, but it has been outsource (another company doing it for us), but
the company decided it want to go 1on1 all they way with its customers.
"Scott Stephenson" <scott.stephenson@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:TCs8b.330$VL4.441669@news2.news.adelphia.net...
> VZW Guy wrote:
> > Well i guess I may be feeling some of my old burn out.. LOL
> >
> > But actually right now I do work for VZW, but not really as customer
> > service.. I work in a new group VZW had previosuly outsource, but has
> > now decided to bring it in hours to be more 1on1 with it's customers.
> > It's nothing really big, We are what VZW calls the "Welcome Call Group"
> > We make outbound calls to new customer (as many as we can) and just
> > basically welcome them and thank them for Joining up with VZW, and try
> > to correct any messups on the account caused by the activationg party.
> > This was a great move on VZW's pat to fix problems BEFORE they cause too
> > much trouble... And it also helps in some other ways too, main one is
> > avoiding fraudualnt activations.. Its a real fun job. And is something
> > i STRONGLY believe that other carrier should follow up on.. (especially
> > Sprint PCS) LOL Heck I think If they had a dedicated team calling thier
> > new customers would increase their rank in the JD Power poll, and also
> > help Fix most of a customers problems BEFORE they happen.
> >
> It is a good idea to have a welcome call- Nextel's been doing it for
years.
>

Wouldn't you know that Nextel has plans that have free incoming minutes.
I guess Nextel can't run a business properly, and should by bankrupt
by now...

AD

VZW Guy wrote:
> Do you not understand they ways of running a business.
>
> Think of it this way.. If you had UNLIMITED incoming minutes, what price
> plan would you sign up on?? Probably a very cheap one. Why you ask?
> Simply this.. Why use up a bunch of anytime minutes calling your
> friends, when you could simply take 1 minute to call that friend and say
> "Hang up, and call me back"?? There would be almost NO chance for you
> going over minutes, so in that aspect the company would really never
> make any money off you.. they would basically just break even. And
> besides if you and you friend are both talking to each other on each of
> your cell phones, HOPEFULLY you were smart enuff to get Mobile2Mobile
> minutes.
>

You also have to remember that those network upgrades are going to come
in the future. They are not expenses that need to be occurred every
year. In fact, if they do that now, it might even give them a
competitive advantage in the future because their network is not
overloaded, when thier competing companies' are. Anyone remember what
happened to AOL when it sold unlimited dialup internet and the lines
were almost always busy?? They had some hefty fines there. Like you
said, you have to think outside the box. And outside the clock, to look
to the future.

VZW Guy wrote:
> True, tru... but with even gaining more customer doesnt always mean your
> making more money.. I could see offering a plan with unlimited incoming,
> but at a higher price per month than normal plans.. If you offer it at
> no cost difference, then they will loose money no matter what, even if
> they manage to pull in millions of customers off of it.. You pull it
> thousand or millions of customers like that, and then you also have to
> Spend millions in upgrade network capacity to handle all these new
> customers who arent really bringing in and "Extra" income. ya see were
> I coming from.. Ya gotta think outside the box. See Sprint for example..
> They ran so many good promotion in Chicago a couple years back, and got
> LOTS of customers.. But it was TOO much for the network to handle.. so
> in turn Sprint had to go Spend Millions if not a fw Billion dollars to
> increase the network in Chicago. So all the money they thought they
> would make from having all these new customer turned away from profiting
> from them into Spending it all to handle them..So many factore to think
> of when it come to trying to aquire a hugnlot of customers..

When I got my Cingular phone back in February, I got a call like that.
In fact, I got three. And they didn't charge me for the miinutes, either.

AD

VZW Guy wrote:
> Well i guess I may be feeling some of my old burn out.. LOL
>
> But actually right now I do work for VZW, but not really as customer
> service.. I work in a new group VZW had previosuly outsource, but has
> now decided to bring it in hours to be more 1on1 with it's customers.
> It's nothing really big, We are what VZW calls the "Welcome Call Group"
> We make outbound calls to new customer (as many as we can) and just
> basically welcome them and thank them for Joining up with VZW, and try
> to correct any messups on the account caused by the activationg party.
> This was a great move on VZW's pat to fix problems BEFORE they cause too
> much trouble... And it also helps in some other ways too, main one is
> avoiding fraudualnt activations.. Its a real fun job. And is something
> i STRONGLY believe that other carrier should follow up on.. (especially
> Sprint PCS) LOL Heck I think If they had a dedicated team calling thier
> new customers would increase their rank in the JD Power poll, and also
> help Fix most of a customers problems BEFORE they happen.
>

And, again, with Cingular, it's like that, too. The first call was from
the salesman who sold me the phone. The second was from someone else in
the store or franchise. The third, which may or may not have been
outsourced, was from corporate Cingular.

AD

vzwguy wrote:
> So has VW, but it has been outsource (another company doing it for us), but
> the company decided it want to go 1on1 all they way with its customers.
> "Scott Stephenson" <scott.stephenson@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:TCs8b.330$VL4.441669@news2.news.adelphia.net...
>
>>VZW Guy wrote:
>>
>>>Well i guess I may be feeling some of my old burn out.. LOL
>>>
>>>But actually right now I do work for VZW, but not really as customer
>>>service.. I work in a new group VZW had previosuly outsource, but has
>>>now decided to bring it in hours to be more 1on1 with it's customers.
>>>It's nothing really big, We are what VZW calls the "Welcome Call Group"
>>>We make outbound calls to new customer (as many as we can) and just
>>>basically welcome them and thank them for Joining up with VZW, and try
>>>to correct any messups on the account caused by the activationg party.
>>>This was a great move on VZW's pat to fix problems BEFORE they cause too
>>>much trouble... And it also helps in some other ways too, main one is
>>>avoiding fraudualnt activations.. Its a real fun job. And is something
>>>i STRONGLY believe that other carrier should follow up on.. (especially
>>>Sprint PCS) LOL Heck I think If they had a dedicated team calling thier
>>>new customers would increase their rank in the JD Power poll, and also
>>>help Fix most of a customers problems BEFORE they happen.
>>>
>>
>>It is a good idea to have a welcome call- Nextel's been doing it for
>
> years.
>
>
>

I don't agree with Mobile to Mobile like that. I think it is too
monopolistic. And, what if the Verizon customer who calls you is
roaming (@ .59/min, for example), then why shouldn't you have that
counnt as a M2M??

Oh, if you read the fine print in the Verizon contracts, the order in
which minutes are depleted goes as follows: Mobile to Mobile, Night and
Weekend, Anytime Minutes, Other Promotional Minutes.

AD

Dave wrote:
> I'd agree with Moblie to Mobile....The person who makes the call should pay
> for the min. As the person you call, should not.
>
> What's the difference, if he calls you after 9pm anyway ?
>

Thats good to hear.. But we dont call the cell phone anyways.. We call the
Home phone, or whatever number they give us as a contact number that
different from the cell phone... This also helps reduce fraud in some cases.

"About Dakota" <glaeske@yifan.net> wrote in message
news:3F62BEE7.6040004@yifan.net...
> When I got my Cingular phone back in February, I got a call like that.
> In fact, I got three. And they didn't charge me for the miinutes, either.
>
> AD
>
> VZW Guy wrote:
> > Well i guess I may be feeling some of my old burn out.. LOL
> >
> > But actually right now I do work for VZW, but not really as customer
> > service.. I work in a new group VZW had previosuly outsource, but has
> > now decided to bring it in hours to be more 1on1 with it's customers.
> > It's nothing really big, We are what VZW calls the "Welcome Call Group"
> > We make outbound calls to new customer (as many as we can) and just
> > basically welcome them and thank them for Joining up with VZW, and try
> > to correct any messups on the account caused by the activationg party.
> > This was a great move on VZW's pat to fix problems BEFORE they cause too
> > much trouble... And it also helps in some other ways too, main one is
> > avoiding fraudualnt activations.. Its a real fun job. And is something
> > i STRONGLY believe that other carrier should follow up on.. (especially
> > Sprint PCS) LOL Heck I think If they had a dedicated team calling thier
> > new customers would increase their rank in the JD Power poll, and also
> > help Fix most of a customers problems BEFORE they happen.
> >
>

But have you LOOKED at the PRICE of those plans.. They are typically HIGHER
than normal plans without incoming minutes free. That is were they are
attempting to make up for COST of having it.
And still IMO the only reason Nextel has lasted this long is becuz of
Direct connect.

"About Dakota" <glaeske@yifan.net> wrote in message
news:3F62BB06.3010506@yifan.net...
> Wouldn't you know that Nextel has plans that have free incoming minutes.
> I guess Nextel can't run a business properly, and should by bankrupt
> by now...
>
> AD
>
> VZW Guy wrote:
> > Do you not understand they ways of running a business.
> >
> > Think of it this way.. If you had UNLIMITED incoming minutes, what price
> > plan would you sign up on?? Probably a very cheap one. Why you ask?
> > Simply this.. Why use up a bunch of anytime minutes calling your
> > friends, when you could simply take 1 minute to call that friend and say
> > "Hang up, and call me back"?? There would be almost NO chance for you
> > going over minutes, so in that aspect the company would really never
> > make any money off you.. they would basically just break even. And
> > besides if you and you friend are both talking to each other on each of
> > your cell phones, HOPEFULLY you were smart enuff to get Mobile2Mobile
> > minutes.
> >
>

Actually if you place a M2M call during the N&W hours, it pulls from the UNL
N&W's Not the M2M..

"About Dakota" <glaeske@yifan.net> wrote in message
news:3F62C0B4.20900@yifan.net...
> I don't agree with Mobile to Mobile like that. I think it is too
> monopolistic. And, what if the Verizon customer who calls you is
> roaming (@ .59/min, for example), then why shouldn't you have that
> counnt as a M2M??
>
> Oh, if you read the fine print in the Verizon contracts, the order in
> which minutes are depleted goes as follows: Mobile to Mobile, Night and
> Weekend, Anytime Minutes, Other Promotional Minutes.
>
> AD
>
> Dave wrote:
> > I'd agree with Moblie to Mobile....The person who makes the call should
pay
> > for the min. As the person you call, should not.
> >
> > What's the difference, if he calls you after 9pm anyway ?
> >
>

About Dakota <glaeske@yifan.net> wrote:
> Oh, if you read the fine print in the Verizon contracts, the order in
> which minutes are depleted goes as follows: Mobile to Mobile, Night and
> Weekend, Anytime Minutes, Other Promotional Minutes.

This has recently changed in most markets, with n/w first, then M2M then
anytime.

| But everyone is basically asking for everything but free service... If
| you were running the company, you would want to MAKE money, no LOOSE it,
| but getting rid of eveything that brings it in... Like you stated
| before, offering a incoming minute free, would most like cause a steep
| increase in plan cost to cover the loss.. I'd rather have a low priced
| plan per month with losts of minutes, than a HIGH priced plan with less
| anytime minutes, with just free incoming calls. Look at Sprint PCS for
| example.. They had a GOOD year when Vision came out.. my plan for
| example $85 for 2000 anytime, unl PCS2PCS, & Unlimited Vision, $10 for
| UNL N&W, and I get to have a second phone share for Free!.. A LOT of UNL
| there huh?.. Well it may have Got them a lot of customers, but it HURT
| them finacially.. Now you see unlimited Vision is $15 a month for the
| phones, I think $25 or $35 for the PDA's to have UNL vision now. UNL
| PCS2PCS is no longer free now, its $5..They had to raise prices cuz they
| found it was costing them money.See I have such a low priced plan for my
| amount of minutes, but I'm not bringing Sprint ANY money, cause I NEVER
| go over my minute because I am always using THOUSANDS of PCS2PCS minutes
| whih are FREE! Heck if I could just have an account with Unlimited
| pcs2pcs, Id be set, and Spritn would make CRAP off of me.. see my
| point..Its ALL about money!, they are a business!

Here's my take. At one time I had the entire Verizon package. But...
Verizon land line started telling me what I wanted, as did verion internet
and VZN dsl. Every time I talked to VZN either on the phone or at one of
the many stores across the country I get the royal run around more often
than not getting my plan changed without my knowledge or authorization
(usually to the PLAN of THE MOMENT) inevitably at a higher cost for less
service/features.

I wanted to add three COAM (customer owned and maintained) phones to my
plan. No spiffs required from VZN but in each case I was expected to extend
the contract period and pay more for access and pay more for air time. Took
me months to get the billing straitened out after I dumped the service.

I now have a number of (more than three) phones on other carriers and have
one on VZN with one year left on the original agreement. Unless VZN gets
the s*it together I'm out of here then.

To paraphrase the commercial 'Can you hear me now?" ... On the customer
service side A: "HUH"

The reason US charge incoming calls is "Free Local Calls" in land lines.
Actually, "Free Local Calls" is not freeze at all. One has to pay huge monthly
fee for "Free Local Calls".

I remember when I was in Taiwan, their monthly fee for land line is $0.90 US
dollar per month. They charge every outgoing calls and free of every incoming
calls whether on land lines or wireless calls.
It is a boom for both land lines and wireless phones. It is dirt cheap to keep
land lines. Free incoming calls also promote wireless phones.

It doesn't hurt to have free incoming calls wireless phones to begin with.
Once you have the phone, you make calls.

The wireless phones do have unique area code for recognitions so people can
avoid calling them(pay more) if they wish.

=>I just find it ridiculous that cell phone companies are charging for
=>incomming minutes. If you have a cell-to-cell call, both parties are
=>getting charged.
=>
=>I know in other countries, people can receive unlimited incomming
=>calls at no extra charge, and in other countries, the person calling
=>from a landline has to dial a special number to call a cell phone,
=>that way the land line person gets charged and not the cell user.
=>
=>Just my $0.02.
=>
=>Eliott

Eliott wrote:
> I just find it ridiculous that cell phone companies are charging for
> incomming minutes. If you have a cell-to-cell call, both parties are
> getting charged.

The reasoning (not that I'm defending it, but...) is that both parties
are on the cell network and using airtime and network resources, so they
should both be billed accordingly.
>
> I know in other countries, people can receive unlimited incomming
> calls at no extra charge,

For what it's worth, Verizon does offer plans (like FamilyShare) that
have a bucket of mobile-to-mobile minutes that won't count against your
regular minute plan. I think other carriers also offer similar (or even
unlimited mobile-to-mobile) plans.
> and in other countries, the person calling
> from a landline has to dial a special number to call a cell phone,
> that way the land line person gets charged and not the cell user.

Calling Party Pays (CPP) has been tried in the US, and for the most
part, has flopped. The simple fact is, quite a few people don't see the
sense in having a landline user pay for the privilege of the mobile user
being able to use his or her mobile phone. The fact that mobile users
also have bucket plans, and pay-as-you-go isn't popular in the US
contributes to this.

As it stands, landline carriers are already offering all-inclusive plans
that offer unlimited long distance and local calls for a flat rate.
This type of environment makes the idea of CPP even more unpopular.